Seeing names like Kobe and Durant on the three stars of the night can get a bit routine, even when they are both putting up a triple double. But we have a first at the three stars — someone making it because of their defensive efforts. And it’s well deserved. Honorable mention to DeMarcus Cousins (29 points in a losing effort) and Carmelo Anthony (26 points and 9 boards), but they just miss the cut.

Kyrie Irving came into Sunday fifth in the NBA in points averaged per game at 24.4, ahead of Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard and others. Irving is the heart of the Cavaliers offense. Holiday was in his jersey all night long and shut him down about as much as one can — Irving had just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting, with four assists and five turnovers. That was why the Sixers got another win.

Second Star: Kobe Bryant (22 points, 11 rebounds, 11 assists)

The Lakers are starting to run some of what Mike D’Antoni wants, and that means a lot of pick-and-roll in the half court. With Steve Nash out with a broken leg, it has fallen to Kobe Bryant to be the guy running the offense — and for a couple games in a row he has put up monster numbers. In this case, a triple double in a comfortable win over the Rockets.

First Star: Kevin Durant (25 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists)

This is Kevin Durant’s first triple double, which leads us to say “really?” Doesn’t it feel like he has four already? Nope, the Warriors were the “defense” in the way of his first. Durant has done more ball handling and playmaking this season, his game has been growing and building, so it makes sense this is the next step in the evolution. You get the feeling this is the first of a whole bunch.

That’s a fine sentiment. Saying it publicly is another matter. Not even Harden did that a couple years ago. He was recorded during a pregame team huddle.

There’s a fine line between self-fulfilling confidence and providing bulletin-board material to the opponent. There’s already some animosity between the teams stemming from the Stephen Curry-Harden MVP race in 2015, and it has bubbled since. No matter how harmless Capela’s remark might have been intended to be, it’ll be met contentiously in the Bay Area.

Oklahoma City traded for Victor Oladipo out of Orlando to be their third scorer, behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. It didn’t exactly work out that way, Durant bolted town and when Westbrook went off Oladipo was looking for a place to fit in.

That place turned out to be the Pacers.

Oladipo has been playing like an All-Star this season with Indiana, and last week he was key in snapping Cleveland’s 13 game win streak, then turned around and dropped 47 points on Denver. For the week he averaged 35.7 points a game, shot 45.7 percent from three, plus grabbed 7.7 rebounds per game.